Whistleblower protection and EthicsLine

Loyola Community,

As a University that is supported by federal funds, we’re writing today to bring attention to an announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding employee whistleblower protection. Congress has enacted whistleblower protection statutes to encourage employees to report fraud, waste, and abuse on federal grants and contracts. You should be aware that the latest protection statutes went into effect in July 2013 and apply to all of Loyola University Chicago’s faculty, staff, and student employees.

The statute states that an “employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee (or subgrantee) may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against as a reprisal for “whistleblowing.” In addition, whistleblower protections cannot be waived by any agreement, policy, form, or condition of employment. For more on the announcement, click here.

Loyola’s “EthicsLine Reporting Hotline,” a centralized and confidential 24/7 web/phone reporting system for students, faculty, and staff is an effective way to report incidents that may involve fraud, waste, and abuse; misconduct; discriminatory actions; academic, financial, and/or regulatory compliance; or other violations of University policy.

The hotline helps ensure ethical integrity so that everyone in the Loyola community can achieve their goals. The University is committed to the highest standards of conduct as an integral part of its mission to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith. To achieve this goal, the University relies on each community member’s ethical behavior, honesty, integrity, and good judgment.

The reporting system is available 24/7 for people to file reports either online or by telephone. Anyone wishing to file a report is encouraged to do so via the “EthicsLine” website or by phone at 855.603.6988.